There are two books I’ve come across that are great resources for new or established art collectors.The first one is called Collecting Contemporary and is written by collector Adam Lindemann. It includes art market information and interviews with the biggest players in the contemporary art world. It covers everything you need to know about buying contemporary art, while explaining the protocol for buying art on the primary and secondary market. The book is beautifully illustrated with artworks by some of today's top artists.
The bulk of the book is made up of interviews with collectors, curators, critics, auction professionals and art consultants. The insider interviews include in depth conversations with Jeffrey Deitch, Barbara Gladstone, Thea Westreich, Peter Brant, Eli Broad, Francois Pinault, Phillipe de Pury and Glenn Lowry, among others. The book ends with a glossary of very helpful art market terms.
The second book is Great Collectors of Our Time, a major survey of contemporary collecting and collectors. It examines many of the greatest collectors living today in Europe, North America and the Far East, and follows their tastes - whether in the Old Masters or the avant garde - from the 20th century into the 21st.
This original and far-reaching survey features many collectors who have spoken about their collections here for the first time. Magnificently illustrated throughout, with favourite images often selected by the owners themselves, this book will appeal to anyone interested in art and in the extraordinary people who collect it. The author, James Stourton, is Chairman of Sotheby's UK.
